lipids Flashcards
are lipids polar or nonpolar molecules?
nonpolar macromolecules
what determines the structure and function of different lipids?
saturation differences
do phospholipids contain polar or nonpolar regions and what do these regions do?
polar regions that interact with other polar molecules, such as water, and with nonpolar regions that are often hydrophobic
why are saturated lipids straight?
because there are hydrogens around the whole thing
what are some examples of saturated lipids?
butter, animal fat
why are unsaturated lipids bent?
because they have a hydrogen bond in the middle
what are some examples of unsaturated lipids?
olive oil - makes it liquid @ room temp because the molecule is bent
what are lipids good at?
insulating and storing energy
what are the 2 types of lipid monomers?
fatty acids and glycerol
why are lipids so important to life?
because they make up cell membranes which all living things are made of cells
which atoms are essential for lipids
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
what specific type of lipid are the fats found in butter and oil and where is the energy stored
triglyceride, energy stored in its fatty acid tails
what specific type of lipids are the fats found in cell membranes
phospholipids
what are triglycerides composed of?
1 glycerol and 3 fatty acid tails
what will saturated fatty acids be at room temp
solid
which type of fat is not the best for humans
saturated
what are phospholipids composed of
2 fatty acid tails and a head that has a phosphate group w/ a negative charge; hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail
what is the function of cholestrol
will maintain fluidity of the membrane; its function is to hold fatty acid tails together when too hot and apart when too cold
are lipids soluble in other lipids?
yes
what type of carbon to carbon bonds are saturated lipids composed of
single bonds
what type of carbon to carbon bonds are unsaturated lipids composed of
only have 1 carbon to carbon double bond
polyunsaturated fatty acids
contain 2 or more crabon to carbon double bonds
glycerol
not a lipid itself but essential in making some important lipids
ester linkage
the linkage between an organic acid and an alcohol
phospholipid
a lipid composed of glycerol in ester linkage with one saturated fatty acid and 1 unsaturated fatty acid, a phosphate group, and an R-group
what type of property do phospholipids give the membrane?
amphipathic (hydrophobic and hydrophilic)
what are some examples of lipids?
testosterone, estrogen, and cortisol
